Postproverbials in Akan (Ghana)

Curator(s)

Prof. Helen Yitah

hyitah@yahoo.com

University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

Curator's Note: The orthography is Asante Twi. A good number of the proverbs are drawn from a book titled Bu Me Be: Proverbs of the Akans compiled by Peggy Appiah, Kwame Anthony Appiah and Ivor Agyeman-Duah, published in 2007 by Ayebia Clarke Ltd.

Postproverbial: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, ntokwa na esi
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, it brings strife
Proverb: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, na ɛkɔm na aku no.
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, it is hunger that has killed him.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Agoro bɛ sɔ a, ɛfiri anadwo
Translation: If a play is going to turn out well, it will be obvious at night
Proverb: Agoro bɛ sɔ a, [ɛfire anopa].
Translation: If a play is going to turn out well, it will be obvious from the morning.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Yɛde akyire gya wo a, na yɛ aha wo
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker, they have bothered you
Proverb: Yɛde akyire gya wo a, ɛnka wo nko.
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker you are not regarded as being alone.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, ɔnyɛ obi nsa no
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, he will have nobody to conduct his funeral
Proverb: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, na ɛkɔm na aku no.
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, it is hunger that has killed him.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial:
Translation:
Proverb: Aban bɛgu a, ɛfiri yam.
Translation: If the state is going to be destroyed, it is from the inside (the stomach).
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial:
Translation:
Proverb: ɔbaa brefoɔ kɔ aware a, ɔde ade pa ba fie.
Translation: If a hardworking woman marries, she brings good things home.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Yɛde akyire gya wo a, hwɛ so yie
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker, it is a huge responsibility
Proverb: Yɛde akyire gya wo a, ɛnka wo nko.
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker you are not regarded as being alone.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, asɛm ba fie
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, it foments trouble
Proverb: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, na ɛkɔm na aku no.
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, it is hunger that has killed him.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial:
Translation:
Proverb: Deɛ anyɛ yie, yɛmfa nka asɛm.
Translation: When something does not turn out well, we don’t use it to talk about other things.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, wɔ nya akatua bɔne.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, s/he gets heavily punished
Proverb: Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, ɔhunu deɛ yɛnhunu.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, then he sees what should not be seen.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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